The Progress., 1887-11-19
QUERIES AND ANSWERS.
Continued from last week.)

dian commission" (of reputed be.
nevolence and fairness) should
have paid but passing notice to-
the ARTICLES presented to them
for their consideration.
Referring to the 5th and last
question of our correspondent the
Progress copies from the "Com.
missions proceedings: -
Art. 8, And it is agreed that
in the employment of farmers, ar
tizans and laborers, preference
shall in all cases be given to the
Indians residing on the reserva-
tion who are well qualified for
such positions.
[Note-1n the first reading of
the so-called agreement, the word
'laborers' only, was embodied
therein, and only after warm and
evasive argument on the part of
the Indians did the Commission
reluctantly add the words farmer
and 'artizans;' upon further OBJ
jections as to the use and defini-
tion Of the word 'artizan' atc.,
they were impatiently answered
by Bishop Whipple in this wise:]
"The provision specifies all we
can, all mechanics, artisans etc.,
artizans means everything! but
it does not mean a clerk or a ply
sician. The reason we did not
put in the word clerk is, the gov
ernment has changed it's policy
in regard to that. We didn't put
in the word clerks simply because
the government at this time didn't
allow any agent within the Uni
ted States to appoint his clerks,
because the Commissioner reserves
that right himself, if we had put it
in it would have detected your en-.
tire treaty.! We did not put in the
word teacher simply from the
fact that the government is at this
time trying to devise a system of
education which will be as perfect
for the Indian, as for the white
people, and the schools will be un-
der the care Of a general superin-
tendent, and an officer of the gov
ernment who shall manage it out
side Of the agents, or any one else.
[ believe myself, that the time is
coming when Congress will pass
law that all those offices shall be
filled by Indians whenever they
prove themselves competent, and
if that is passed, it will over.
ride any treaty ever made in the
United States, and there is moth
ing in this treaty to prevent it. If
we go contrary to what. we know
is the policy of the government in
making this treaty, why Congress
will not ratify it, and will say we
have been doing what we had no
business to do.'' ....@
It has been we'll known by the
intelligent portion Of our people,
that under former administration,
| all Indian agents were instructed
to give the preference for employ
| ment to Indians who were capa-
| bic to perform service, and were
prohibited from employing more
| than one member Of their family,
and then only as teacher. This
was in compliance with United
! States laws, Sec. 5, of the Indi-
/ an appropriation bill of Mar. 1875
PROVIDES for the employment of
Indians in any capacity when
found capable. Other sections Of
III. S. laws provides as follows:
In the cases of the appointment
of Interpreters, or other persons
employed for the benefit of the In
dians a PREFERENCE shall he given
to persons Of Iridium descent, If
such can be found who are proper.
erly qualified for the execution Of
their duties.''
| when any Of the tribes are in
1.-THE opinion Of the Secretary Of the